PHIL6053 Mind, Knowledge and Reality

Module Overview

The aims of this module are to:
• familiarise you with complex classic philosophical texts in philosophy of mind, epistemology and/or metaphysics
• help you to identify the main themes and problems and proposed solutions in the texts in question
• help you to assess critically the philosophical merits of the views and solutions advanced in the texts
• help you to identify the connections between the different philosophical themes, problems and solutions running though the texts studied
• help you to assess critically the merits of the texts studied

Module Details

Semester:

Semester 1

CATS points:

15

ECTS points:

7.5

Level:

Level 7

Module Lead:

Genia Schoenbaumsfeld

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

knowledge and critical understanding of the central themes, problems and arguments in the texts studied

where appropriate, knowledge and understanding of the relationship between the different texts studied

the ability to undertake independent research appropriate to the production of an assessed essay

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

research a complex topic independently

present the outcome of your research orally in a seminar context

engage in group discussion, making and taking constructive criticism

summarise the central themes, questions, problems and solutions related to that topic

critically assess the cogency and success of proposed solutions

write a clear and well-structured overview of the main issues, possible problems and solutions relevant to topic being examined

manage the time and resources available to you in order to achieve success in the above tasks

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

identifying the central themes and problems in a philosophical text

identifying main views and solutions offered by the authors

identifying authors’ arguments in support of the above

critically assess complex philosophical texts. This involves:
- identifying and explaining solutions to the philosophical questions and problems proposed in the central texts
- assessing the cogency and success of the above
- identifying and explaining other possible solutions and assessing their relative merits

articulate, present and debate philosophical ideas, both orally and in writing, in an open-minded but rigorous way

Syllabus

Mind, Knowledge and Reality offers you the opportunity to explore in detail some central texts in the Western philosophical tradition that address issues in philosophy of mind, epistemology and/or metaphysics. Some examples of possible texts are: Hume (A Treatise of Human Nature); Kant (Critique of Pure Reason); McDowell (Mind and World); David Lewis (Philosophical Papers); Heidegger (Being and Time); Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations); Sellars, (Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind).